Category Archives: Mobile Devices

MobileViews Podcast 379:Reminiscing 25 years of Windows CE/Mobile/Phone with Jason Dunn


Jon Westfall was unavailable for this podcast. Fortunately, our mutual friend Jason Dunn was available as a guest co-host to reminisce about Windows CE/Mobile/Phone as it nears its 25th launch anniversary (November 1996).

Unfortunately, something weird happened during the recording process, however. The Audio HiJack audio-flow template that I’ve used to record hundreds of previous podcasts only recorded what Jason said. The good news is that I mostly asked questions and provided a few discussion prompts. Moreover, Jason is an excellent extemporaneous speaker. So, you can guess what I said. I removed the blank audio spaces (silences) during the segments I spoke.

Way back in Nov. 2010, Jason and I discussed the then new Windows Phone 7 which made a clean break from Microsoft’s older mobile devices and didn’t maintain app compatibility with Windows Mobile 6. Today, we’re looking back even further to Windows CE 1.0 as well as doing a catch-up conversation since his last visit to the podcast in October 2016!

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

MobileViews Podcast 378: Guest Frank McPherson; Windows CE 25th anniversary; AirPod 4A400 firmware update & more



Jon Westfall and I are joined by frequent guest panelist Frank McPherson to reflect on Microsoft Windows CE’s 25th anniversary and Microsoft mobile journey over the decades.

We also discussed:

  1. My $48 Bluetooth earbuds have two features my Air Pods Pro do not: (1) Over the ear “hooks” so they don’t fall out when walking and (2) a digital display on the charging case that shows the battery charge level for each earbud. It seems like a decent product so far. However, despite having “noise cancellation” in the product name, it does not have such a feature.
  2. New this week: Apple pushes out AirPods firmware, enables “Conversation Boost” – “Apple says Conversation Boost is designed to help people with mild hearing challenges stay more connected in conversations. The feature uses the AirPods Pro’s beam-forming microphones to boost the volume of a person talking in front of you, making it easier to listen to a face-to-face conversation, and there is also an option to reduce ambient noise.” – How much longer until commercial BT headphones replace $$$ hearing aids? — Firware Version 4A400
  3. Also, MacRumors has a massive iOS 15 tips/tricks document – some things I forgot about – drag and drop support greatly improved, square calendar widget (Month view!), iOS password manager now supports 2 factor codes, AR walking mode directions (would be great for cities), background sounds (e.g., rain, other ambient sounds to help improve concentration).

    And something I didn’t realize you could do – when sending a photo in messages, you can search by month/year. Really helps when you know you had a picture you took last March that you want to send someone now.

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

MobileViews Podcast 377: iPad mini 6 1st impressions; iOS 15 walking steadiness; Windows CE 25th anniversary



In this podcast Jon Westfall and I discuss:

  1. Windows CE 25th anniversary year: November 16, 1996
  2. Measure your walking steadiness with your iPhone
    iOS 15 walking asymmetry using iPhone 8 or newer – can help with fall prevention
  3. Setup iPad mini 6 using an iPad mini 5 did not work
    Using an iPhone 12 Pro did
    Restored from iPad mini 5 backup
    Microsoft Teams did not sync data. Uninstalled, installed fresh, signed in – worked
    inherited Bluetooth pairing limited to Apple devices
    Not non-Apple devices, e.g., Anker keyboard
    Fingerprint ID on power button works well
    Wish I could use it from right side in landscape mode
    Smart Folio is nice AND expensive. I wonder how durable it is?
    Can’t see battery level in portrait mode lock screen – block by Touch ID label Can see battery level in landscape lock screen orientation
    iOS 15 “focus” features
  4. iPad mini 6 exhibits ‘jelly scrolling’ display refresh issue
  5. Use Scenarios for 2 iPads: Explain Everything (Collaborative White Board) + Notes on the lectern at work. What are other times when you 2 devices is better than 1 even with multitasking?

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

MobileViews Podcast 376: Apple’s Fall 2021 announcements – what we found interesting

Jon Westfall and I talk about the announcements that Apple made on September 14, 2021 that actually interested us.

  1. iOS/iPadOS 15 available Sept. 20
  2. What Apple didn’t announce on Sept. 14
    No iPhone 13 under display or on power button touch ID
    No Apple Watch Series 7 additional health metrics
    No new AirPod
  3. New iPhone 13 camera features
    Telephoto up from 2.5 to 3x
    Macro (2cm)
    Night mode for ultrawide
    Cinematic mode
  4. iPad mini 6
    Touch ID on top/power button
    No Face ID
    USB-C port
    Center Stage feature from iPad Pro available for front-facing camera
    NO Smart Connector
    Apple Pencil 2
  5. iPad 9th gen
    Smart Connector
    Only Apple Pencil 1 support
    Center Stage
  6. Rumor of new iPad Pro and Airpods 3 in November: What would you need to upgrade iPad Pros

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

MobileViews Podcast 371


In this podcast Jon Westfall and I discuss:

  1. The boring consumer UI/UX for Teams bundled with Windows 11
  2. What did Apple really make money with in the last quarter? Reddit: Apple’s Latest Quarter
  3. The Crucial X6 500GB USB-C portable SSD
  4. What happened to the affordable model of the Asus Zenbook Duo 14-inch?
  5. Jon’s Backpack is more awesome than he thought, but sadly, you can’t get it.
    Pro Slim Weekender

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

MobileViews Podcast 370: Guest Sven Johannsen. Microsoft Teams, KilledByGoogle, Midinote, Ghost Cert; Apple MagSafe Battery Pack; iPad mini rumors; Dell Inspiron 7506; Streaks



Jon Westfall and I are joined by frequent guest panelist Sven Johannsen in podcast 370. We discussed:

  1. Is Microsoft Teams for personal use really Teams?
  2. Dead and soon-to-die Google services: Google Graveyard
    I haven’t used Google Bookmarks since 2016 but exported the bookmarks anyway. Bookmarks will disappear after the end of September.
    Still having problems printing from Chromebooks after Google Cloud Print was killed in 2020.
  3. Midinote beta Tags that eventually form a mindmap
  4. Mini-rant: Can’t find an expired certificate in iOS/iPadOS. Not in the obvious place where other certs are found
  5. Apple MagSafe Battery Pack Slam dunk or sploosh
  6. iPad Mini refresh rumors flourishing
  7. Dell 16” Inspiron 7506 2-1, with pen with pen storage
  8. iMessage vs RCS vs SMS
  9. Streaks app now allows up to 24 items vs 12
  10. One Last Thing: Jon Discovered a Mac Setting he never knew existed (Keep Folders on Top)

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.